Lester Neil McArthur, 83, of Spearfish succumbed to cancer on February 18th.

Graveside services will be at 3:00 P.M. on Thursday, February 21, 2013 at Black Hills National Cemetery, with military honors provided by the Spearfish Honor Guard. Donations in memory of Neil McArthur can be made to:

Spearfish Canyon Volunteer Fire Department
c/o Jack Wanstedt
21193 US Highway 14A
Lead, SD 57754

Neil was born on July 6th, 1929, in Hot Springs, SD. Growing up, the Great Depression and then World War II caused his family to move several times. Neil played basketball and ran track while attending four different high schools around the country, and graduated from Lead High School in 1946. He then enlisted in the Army, and following his service he attended Black Hills State College. He married Dorothy Dell Glover of Lead in 1951, and then re-entered the Army as an officer, leading a tank platoon in combat during the Korean War.

Their combined lifelong dedication to education and teaching young people took Neil and Dorothy on adventures across the Midwest including Lewiston Montana, Greely & Gillette Wyoming, Chadron & Lincoln Nebraska, Rapid City, and Spearfish. Neil received his Master's degree and pursued his passion of teaching speech and drama. He was very proud of the innovative theater productions he sponsored as well as photographic arts and debate programs in college communities with limited resources. He also served as a recruiter, identifying talented prospective college students from across the State of South Dakota. In 1969, he accepted a position with the U.S. Government in Washington, D.C. where for over twenty years he provided support to university and college Veterans educational programs across the country.

Additionally, Neil was very active in Scouting and his children's school activities. Following retirement in 1992, Neil and Dorothy returned to Spearfish, spending summers with friends and family at the Spearfish Canyon cabin Neil's parents built by hand.

Neil's other passions included music and cooking. He played bass clarinet in a college dance band, enjoyed listening to music, and encouraged his children to play instruments in orchestra and band. A talented cook, Neil experimented with cuisines from around the world. While living in the Washington D.C. area, he was fond of exploring international food shops as well as visiting the seafood market on the Potomac River to select dinner straight from the boat. Nothing delighted him more than to present family and friends an unusual dish that inevitably was absolutely delicious.

In later years, he continued to enjoy cooking, and when not in the Canyon, watching sports on television.

He will be greatly missed by his children, Hugh McArthur, South Riding, Va., Leslie McArthur-Fox, Blacksburg, Va., Howard McArthur, O'Fallon, Il., Heath McArthur, Bristow, Va., and their spouses; eleven grandchildren, two
great-grandchildren, and his very dear friends, Don and Gerry Heisz of Spearfish. Neil is preceded in death by his parents Hugh and Jean, and his wife Dorothy, who he was married to for 58 years.

Arrangements are under the care of Isburg Funeral Chapels & Crematory Service of Spearfish.